His Excellency Ambassador Crispin Grey-Johnson

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STATEMENT

BY

HIS EXCELLENCY AMBASSADOR CRISPIN GREY-JOHNSON

PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GAMBIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

CHAIRMAN OF THE GROUP OF AFRICAN STATES

TO THE 61ST SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY UNDER

AGENDA ITEM 79:

SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE CHARTER OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND OF THE STRENGTHENING OF THE ROLE OF THE ORGANIZATION

NEW YORK

16TH OCTOBER 2006

Mr. Chairman

The African Group wishes to thank H.E. Ambassador Eduardo Sevilla Somozaof Nicaragua for the able manner in which he led the 249th session of the Special Committee of the Charter.

We also thank the Secretary General for his report as contained in document A/61/304 in which he highlighted the measures taken for the further improvement of the procedures and working methods of the Security Council and its sanctions committees relating to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions. We commend the work done so far by the Security Council informal working group on these questions.

Mr. Chairman

We would like to recall what was agreed by our leaders in the Outcome Document, particularly the sections dealing with Sanctions, the rule of law, and strengthening of the United Nations.

The African Group would once again like to emphasize that the power of the Security Council to impose sanctions should be exercised in accordance with the United Nations Charter and international law. Sanctions should be considered only after all means of peaceful settlement of disputes under Chapter VI of the United Nations Charter have been exhausted. Furthermore, sanctions should be imposed for a precise time frame and should be lifted as soon as the objectives are achieved. In addition, they should be non-selective and targeted in order to mitigate their negative impacts on the populace.

The African Group further stresses the need for strict adherence to article 50 of the charter of the United nations which provides that in case preventive enforcement measures are taken by the Security council against any state, whether a Member of the United Nations or not, which measures create special economic problems and hardships for its citizens,that state shall have the right to address the Security Council with a view to seeking redress.

Mr. Chairman,

The African Group would like to recall all relevant General Assembly resolutions, in particular A/RES/60/23 and their various provisions for assisting third states affected by the application of sanctions and also take note of the work so far done by the Working Group on sanctions and by the informal Working Group set up by the Security Council.

Mr. Chairman,

The African Group welcomes the flexibility shown by the Russian Delegation during the 249th session of the Special Committee of the Charter, on ways to conclude the declaration entitled “Declaration on the Basic Conditions and Standard Criteria for the Introduction and Implementation of Sanctions and other Coercive Measures”, and supports the idea of annexing it to a General Assembly resolution.

The African Group supports the salient points raised in the proposal of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, in particular the provision of possible payment of compensation to target and/or third States for damage done by sanctions found to have been unlawfully imposed.

The African Group also encourages the Special Committee to continue its consideration of all other relevant proposals on its agenda.

Mr. Chairman,

On peaceful settlement of disputes, the African Group, while reaffirming the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter relative to the free choice of means of peaceful settlement, would like to reiterate the important role played by judicial mechanisms, particularly the International Court of justice (ICJ). The Court is celebrating its Sixtieth Anniversary this year.

The Group urges Member States to make the most effective use of existing procedures and methods for the prevention of disputes and their peaceful settlement, in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

Finally Mr. Chairman,

Regarding the Repertory of practice of United Nations organs and Repertoire of practice of the Security Council, the African Group welcomes the conclusions of the Secretary General in his report regarding these publications and also welcomes the progress made in eliminating the backlog in the publication of the Repertory of Practice of United Nations and Repertoire of practice of the Security Council.

I thank you.

Statement by H.E. Mr. Crispin Grey-Johnson

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of The Gambia to the United Nations

And Chairman of the Group of the African States

16th October 2006